Nehemiah 5
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
8And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
9Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
14Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
18Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- אֲשֶׁרʼăsherH83413× in this chapter
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- אֵתʼêthH85312× in this chapter
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- אָמַרʼâmarH55910× in this chapter
to say (used with great latitude)
- לֹאlôʼH38089× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- עַלʻalH59218× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- עָשָׂהʻâsâhH62138× in this chapter
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
- זֶהzehH20887× in this chapter
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
- אָחʼâchH2517× in this chapter
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
- גַּםgamH15716× in this chapter
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
- דָּבָרdâbârH16976× in this chapter
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
- עַםʻamH59716× in this chapter
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
- כֹּלkôlH36055× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- שָׂדֶהsâdehH77045× in this chapter
a field (as flat)
- אַתָּהʼattâhH8595× in this chapter
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
- בֵּןbênH11214× in this chapter
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
- דָּגָןdâgânH17154× in this chapter
properly, increase, i.e. grain
- הָיָהhâyâhH19614× in this chapter
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
- יוֹםyôwmH31174× in this chapter
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
- יֵשׁyêshH34264× in this chapter
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
- כֶּסֶףkeçephH37014× in this chapter
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
- כֶּרֶםkeremH37544× in this chapter
a garden or vineyard
- אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîymH4304× in this chapter
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
- אֲנַחְנוּʼănachnûwH5874× in this chapter
we
- פֶּחָהpechâhH63464× in this chapter
a prefect (of a city or small district)
- בַּיִתbayithH10043× in this chapter
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
- בַּתbathH13233× in this chapter
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
- גּוֹיgôwyH14713× in this chapter
a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
- יְהוּדִיYᵉhûwdîyH30643× in this chapter
a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah)
- אִישׁʼîyshH3763× in this chapter
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
- לֶחֶםlechemH38993× in this chapter
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
- לָקַחlâqachH39473× in this chapter
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
- מָכַרmâkarH43763× in this chapter
to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender)
- נָעַרnâʻarH52873× in this chapter
to tumble about
- נַעַרnaʻarH52883× in this chapter
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
- אֲנִיʼănîyH5893× in this chapter
I
- שָׁנֶהshânehH81413× in this chapter
a year (as a revolution of time)
- בָּקַשׁbâqashH12452× in this chapter
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
- בָּשָׂרbâsârH13202× in this chapter
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman
- גָּדוֹלgâdôwlH14192× in this chapter
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
- אֶחָדʼechâdH2592× in this chapter
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first